Apparatus for separating oil and water from gas



(No Model.) v 0. L. STOCK.

APPARATUS FOR SEPABATING OIL AND WATER PROM GAS.

Patented FebfZ, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. STOCK, OF FOSTORIA, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL AND WATER FROM GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,138, dated February2, 1892.

Application filed May 13, 1891. Serial No. 392,563. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. STOCK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for SeparatingOil and ater from Gas; and I do declare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention is an improved device for separating oil and water fromnatural gas as it comes from the well, and the particular object-of theinvention is to provide a simple and elficient mechanism by the use ofwhich the valve controlling the water-discharge pipe will be positivelyoperated at all times. This object I accomplish by the use'of themechanism illustrated in the annexed drawings; and the inventionconsists in certain novel features of the same, as will be hereinaftermore fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved device with thereceiver in vertical section and the interior parts in elevation, andFig. 2 is a vertical section of the entire device. v

The receiverA may be buried in the ground or arranged in any othersuitable or preferred manner. It is constructed of any strong material,preferably metal, and is provided at its upper end with a dome-shapedcap B,hav ing an opening 0 in its apex, which is engaged by the end ofthe gas-discharge pipe, and an opening D in its side below its apex,which receives the end of the inlet-pipe. The inlet-pipe leads from thewell, and the gas containing the oil, water, and other impurities entersthe receiver through the same. At the bottom of the receiver there is anopening E, which registers with or forms the upper end of thewater-discharge pipe, the said pipe leading into a suitable tank orreservoir, in which the oil and water are collected. \Vithin thereceiver I provide a float E, which is of a diameter somewhat less thanthe diameter of the receiver and is adapted to move freely up and downtherein as the water and oil reach a higher or lower level. The float ismaintained in a strict vertical position within the receiver and keptout of frictional contact with the sides of the same by means of thelugs or rollers G, which are mounted on the sides of --the float andbear against the sides of the receiver, as will be readily understoodupon reference to the drawings. The fioatis hollow, and across the lowerend of the same is arranged. a series of diametrical rods II, to thejunction of which I secure the short depending standard orlug I, and tothe lower end of this lug Ipivot the links J. The lower ends of thelinks J are pivoted to the inner end of a lever K, which extendsradially outward and is pivoted between the upper ends of the standardsL, rising from the bottom of the receiver, at one side of the same. Nearthe outer end of the lever K, I pivot thereto the upper ends of thelinks M, the lower ends of which are pivoted to a vibratory presser-barN, which has one end playing in the space between the standards L,whereby it is prevented from moving later'ally, and its opposite endpivoted to a standard O, rising from the bottom of the receiver adjacentto the end of the water-discharge pipe.

A valve 1 is pivoted to the under side of the vibratory presser-bar,directly over the upper end of the water-discharge pipe, and is adaptedto rest on the same and thereby control the flow of water therethrough.In order that the valve may be retained directly over the end of thedischarge-pipe, I erect on the bottom of the receiver the guide Q,through which the vibratory bar passes and which is arranged inalignment with the end of the pipe.

hen the device is in use, the gas, together with the oil and water,flows into the receiver through the inlet-pipe, and the gas rises to thetop and passes off through the gas-discharge pipe. The water and oil,however,will be caused to fall to the bottom of the receiver by theirweight and will collect therein, as will be seen at once upon aninspection of the drawings. As the liquids accumulate in the receiverthey will lift the float, and the float will in turn draw upon the linksJ M and the lever K to lift the vibratory bar, and thus ICQ thedischarge-pipe. 7

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, that I have provided a very simple andefficientdevice by the use of which the liquids contained in the naturalgas as it comes from the well will be automatically removed therefrom,so that a perfectly-dry gas will be delivered through the mains foruse.v

The rollers or lugs on the float reduce the frictiorrbetween the floatand the receiver to a minimum, so that the float will move easily andreadilg at all times, and its satisfactory operation is thus guaranteed.The system of levers and links connecting the float with the valve willmultiply the force exerted by the float, so as to thoroughly andpositively overcome all sticking of thevalve caused by rusting orothercauses.

Although I have shown and described the inlet-pipeas arranged nearthetop of the receiver, it'will be readily understood that it may bearranged at any other point, according to the convenience of theoperator, without departing from my invention, as the gas will alwaysrise to the top.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is v The combination of the receiver having an inletand provided with a gas-discharge opening in its top and awater-discharge opening in its bottom, the float arranged in thereceiver, the pair of standards erected on the bottom of the receiver,the pivoted presserbar carrying a valve adapted to close thewater-discharge opening and having its free end playing between the saidstandards, a

lever pivoted between the said standards, 7

